Grass trimmer



May 20, 1952 E. F. BRITTEN, 111

GRASSv TRIMMER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1948 May 20, 1952 E. F. BRITT'EN, In

GRASS TRIMMER '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 28, 1948 @@Qww em E' 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 GRASS TRIMMER E. F. BRITTEN, III

May zo, 1952 Filed 001'.. 28, 1948 May 20, l952! E. F. BRITTEN, m 2,597,774

. GRASS TRIMMER Filed Oct. 28, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 20, 1952 E. F. BRITTEN, m 2,597,774

GRASS TRIMMER Filed Oct. 28, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 20., 952 E. F. BRn-TEN, m

GRASS TRIMMER 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 28, 1948 Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '2,597,774 GRASS TRIMMER F. Britten, III, Cranford, J. iiiilictionetober 2s, 194s, serial Nc. V57,0141

(cl. sli-25.4)

trirnr'ner of 'the cherncter loying e. vertical Snert, vand e cutting blade ied hy seid Snert to rotate 4in n plane :at et 'rig'htangle to the shaft. Heretofra hahtle'pi'table grass trimmers 'of this 'nino lieve, in ec jesi ein @Warnemployed electric inotor for diitingtnejvertieel ei-ating shaft! such motor being the best et ila'bl'e 'as regards comptness andweight, t be ed at the l wer end "o'i a handle by a ated bythe handlein trinirning grass. Ho ever, kan electric motor for the purpose necessarily involves. 'f or extended work, 'a separate expensive portab? generator llnit. Furthermore, due to the up aftotair created by the rotating cutting if lthe grass being; tll d ls at all wet, as 'with dew or 'after a iaiminolstll're is blown into anti over the inot' of the tiininer with consequent short circuits and other opereti'ng troubles. The vlone electrical lead n ceesery between the generator unit and the -ntoi isalso han cab.

Herejt'ofore, `also, various atteinpts have been ri'iade, by the use -v'of an internal combustion en'- gi'ne es aprirne mover fertile cutting blade, to forestall the foregoing foutlined iiifiicnlties attendent neon 'the use of handle-carried electrie inotcr, but in ellsiich inetencee in so fer ce :i hevebeen ticle to discover, 'the engine is heavy and eiliilbers'oln'e and involves the use 'of acarriege, truck', ofthe like on wheels; with the result that the enventegee ef a hand-genetic device, peiticiileilyicr working close obstructed areas, are 'entirely 10st.

in object of thepresent inverltiony therefore, is to ieroii'iY e ethandle-fN ed d'ivice incorporating an internal combustion engine for driving the cuttingr piede, and whereinthe engine will he so cofnpact and light in weight as to re' er' the clevice entirely fees'bl and handy, e' susceptible of convenient u l' by' :a Workman Without reaction of urnbe'rsomeness oi over-'burdenin-l t e f Another object oi the inyeiitinicto provide e device involving e. venttlng Need', inclu ing the engine, fanti ii/herein, iii so far as posslble, al1 of the parte will be fcrinedcf lient weight metal, thus to provide cutting head of ininiinutil fas'ibl Weight.

ti11 ax l other and equally important object f 2 cooling influences' of the up-draft of 'air created bythe rotating cutting blade, and then thereafter he impelled about the engine cylinder to ijssiie nnelly against 'the exhaust inenifcld thus to not only c ool the cylinder but also to carry off theexcess heat of the manifol.

Another object i:lf v the invention lls t provide adevce so devised that the ln'ajor parts thereof may be inienufaotiired in Seperate distinct units capable of assembly as "such, and likewise capable of replacement as euch, so that upon failure of 'any given unit, a new unit ina'y be conveniently substituted without an over-all repair cfthewncle.

The invention has Iother objects as regards the compac'tness ofthe cutting' headt'he vini'genious use of certain parts to accomplish dual purposes, and structural originality regarding the engine itself, but emphesisin these respecte would seein better left to the following description of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved grass trimmer.v

Figure 2 is 'an enlarged perspective View of the cutting head.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of 'the cutting head. v

, Figure 4 is a further enlarged View partly elevation and part-ly in section of the cutting head.

Figure 5 is a section on the line `5 5 ci Figure 4.

Figure 6 S a frnt eYeV'abh Of th Cutting hd, parts being shown in section.

igure is a Section on the lline 'L -7 f Fgul'e 6.

Figure 12 is Sti the il 2-142 Of FgurE Figure 13 is a perspective 'View showing the en'- gine 'crank Shaft, piston, intake valve, and starter pulley of the engine; the parts being separated but l brir ellt'i'l pitb.

Fiure 14 is a "section 'on the lille Ill-I4 of Fig- Uie 4.

Figure l5 ie e section on the line 15--45 of Figll' 4.

Figure 16 is a section on the line I-IS of Figure 4.

Figure 17 is a section on the line I'I-I 'I of Fibure 4.

Figures 18 and 19 are, respectively, a plan view and edge elevation of the cutting blade.

Figure 20 is a plan View of the ground shoe of the device.

Figure 21 is a section on the line 2 l--2I of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a detail perspective view of the air flue employed.

Figure 23 is a detail perspective view of the fuel tube.

Figure 24 is a detail perspective View of the fuel shut-off device employed.

Figure 25 is an enlarged sectional view of the needle valve assembly.

The device as a whole, as seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, comprises a curved handle i0, a cutting head I I at the lower inner end of the handle, and a fuel tank I2 at the outer end of the handle. The handle I5 is preferably provided with a straight inner stem joined to the head I I, and a more or less straight outer end portion which carries the tank I2. The tank l2 is of no particular importance as regards its structural details or how mounted. It is to be noted, however, that the tank l2 provides a counterweight for the head l I, and adjustably xed to the handle is an intermediate hand-grip I3. Thus, a workman grasping the outer end of the handle Iii say in the right hand and grasping the grip I3 in the left hand may, by adjusting the grip I3 longitudinally of the handle, somewhat balance the weight of the device as a whole. This feature is of importance as, in actual practice, it contributes so much to the convenient use-and easy poise of the device. It is further to be'noted that the handle I is tubular and provides an air linlet duct I4.

The cutting head II may now be considered. To begin at the bottom, Iemploy, as perhaps best seen in Figures i and 8, a ground shoe I5, next above, an elongated air dish I5, and, next above, a cover plate Il for said dish. These parts will be taken up in sequence.

Figures 2O and 21 of the drawings show the ground shoe I in detail. As will be observed, said shoe is dished downwardly in the middle and is provided with a neck E8 which merges into an upwardly curved head I9 having a lateral flange 2G, ribs 2l in V-shaped relationship being provided exteriorly of theshoe at the heel portion thereof.

The air dish I5 is best seen in Figures 4, 8, and 17 of the drawings. Looking at Figure 17, it will be seen that the air dish comprises an elongated body rectangular at its outer end portion and cylindrical at its inner end portion. The flange 20 of the head I9 o-f the ground shoe I5 fits the outer end portion of the air dish, to which it is detachably secured. The depth of the air dish is a matter of choice, as well as the spacing between the shoe I5 and said dish.

The cover plate I l is perhaps best seen in Figure 16 of the drawings. This plate comprises a head 22 carrying a collar 23. integral with the head is an inner ring 2li and an outer guard ring 25 joined with the inner ring by spaced webs 2S. The cover plate is detachably secured to the air dish l5 thereover and provides, through the medium of the collar 23, a means whereby the handle I0 is xed at its inner end to said plate, so that the duct Il! of the handle thus opens into the air 4 dish. The purpose of the guard ring 25 will later appear.

The air fan employed and associated parts may now be considered.

As seen in Figures 4 and 8 o-f the drawings, I provide a cylindrical bowl-shaped fan housing 2l which rests upon the cover plate Il of the air dish I6 and is detachably secured to both by cap screws extending upwardly through said plate. Within the fan housing is provided a fan 28 in the form of a cylindrical casing 29 provided at the bottom peripheral portion thereof with radial fan blades 30. Thus, as will be seen so far, rotation of the fan 28 will serve to draw in a cooling air stream through the duct I4 of the handle I5 into the air dish I5, thence through the central opening of the cover plate I l, and thence into the fan housing 27.

The casing 29 is closed at its upper end by a head plate 3i detachably fixed to the under side of a cover plate 32, in turn detachably secured to the housing 27, so that the fan 28 may turn freely about said head plate. Arranged within the fan casing 2S is a suitable magneto, indicated as a whole in dotted lines in Figure 15 at 33.

The structural details of the magneto 33 are not important, and the showing is intended as merely conventional. However, it is to be observed that, as shown in Figure 5, the rotating eld magnet 35 of the magneto is carried by the fan casing 23. Thus, a magneto, casing therefor, and fan are, in the present instance, all embodied in a Single unit.

The engine employed and associated parts may now be considered.

Formed on the cover plate 32, as seen in Figures 5 and 8 of the drawings, is a bearing sleeve 35, in which is disposed a gland 35, and overlying said gland is anupper bearing 3l. Formed on the bottom wall of the fan housing 2l is a bearing cup 38, and positioned in said cup is a lower bearing 39. J'ournaled by the bearings 31 and 35 is a crank shaft 4B, seen in detail in Figure 13. The crank shaft is provided at its lower end portion with a tail stemAI, and surrounding said stem is a bushing 42 received by the lower bearing 39. As will be observed, the fan casing 29 is keyed to said shaft to turn therewith about the head plate 3l for said casing, and interposed between these parts about the crank shaft is a spring 3 tending to prevent the casingv from grinding against the-head plate. At its upper end, the crank shaft @D carries a cheek plate Ill which overlies the bearing 3l, and upstanding from said plate is a crank pin 45.

Detachably fixed to the bearing sleeve 35 is an upstanding crank case 45 to one side of which is removably secured a horizontally disposed cylinder 4l closed at its outer end by a detachable cylinder head 48 carrying a spark plug 43. Operatively connecting the spark plug with the inagneto 33 is a lead 5G. The engine is two-cycle, and the cylinder 41 includes appropriate ducts 5I for conducting fuel gases from the crank case l into the outer end portion of the cylinder, as will be well understood. Reciprocable in the cylinder is a piston 52 coupled with the crank pin i5 by a connecting rod 53. Thus, as the piston is driven, the crank shaft it will be rotated to turn the fan 28.

It is now to be noted that the fan housing 2l is, as particularly seen in Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings, provided at one side thereof directly beneath the overhanging engine cylinder 4l with a rectangular air outlet 54, and removably secured to said outlet is arectangular air flue-55, seen in detail in Figure 22 Yof the drawings. As shown, the flue is open at its inner side so that the right 4and left side walls of said ue may, as seen in Figure 14, straddle the outer end por-tion vof the engine cylinder, while `the outer side Wall of said flue, as more particularly seen in Figure 22, is cut away -to provide an air exit -56 about the cylinder head 48.

Detachably mounted upon the engine cylinder 41 at its upper side is Yan exhaust manifold ,51 having depending flanges 58 straddling the right and left sidewalls of vthe air flue 55, to which walls said `flanges are `removably secured. As perhaps best seen in Figure 8, the exhaust manifold overhangs the outer end portion -of the cylinder 41, transversely thereof, and is provided at its lower side with an upwardly and `outwardly inclined baffle wall 59, while at one 4end of said manifold is provided van exhaust tube '68.

Detachably mounted upon the manifold 51 .is an exhaust port vliner unit, `indicated as a whole at 6I. VAs -this unit has been made the subject of 4a `-prior patent, it is unnecessary herein to go into the details thereof, except to note, for the purposes of present understanding, that said unit includes a plurality of exhaust port liner tubes 62, best seen in Figures 7 and 9, which tubes may, Vby manual withdrawal of the unit, -be removed from said ports for cleaning. The tubes 62 connect the exhaust ports of the engine cylinder with .the exhaust manifold 51, so that the exhaust gases from said cylinder may flow through the manifold to issue through the exhaust tube 60.

Closing the lcrank case 46 at its upper end is a removable head 63 on one side of which is integrally formed, as best seen in Figure '1, a lateral inlet duct 64 providing an air inlet passage 65 leading therethrough into the head. Journaled through the head is a removable valve 66, shown in detail in Figure 13 of the drawings. At its lower end, this valve carries a cheek plate 61 which overlies the connecting rod 53 of the engine piston and parallels the cheek plate 44 of the engine crank shaft 48. Formed in the cheek plate 61 is a notch 68 which more or less freely receives the upper end of the crank pin 4 I. Thus, the valve 66 will be caused to rotate with the crank shaft, while, also, as will be perceived, the valve may be manually turned for initially rotating said shaft and starting the engine. Fitted in the upper end of the head 63 to surround the upper end portion of the valve is a gland 69, and xed to the upper end of the valve is a starting pulley 10 to which a suitable cord may be detachably connected, as will be well understood, for starting the engine. At its lower end portion, the valve 66 is axially cored to provide a passage 1I terminating at its upper end in a lateral port 12 adapted to intermittently communcate with the inner end of the passage 65 of the duct 64 as the valve rotates.

Rotatable against the outer end of the duct 64, as perhaps best seen in Figures 6, '1, and 8, is a detachable spring-pressed choke valve '19 in the form of a more or less nat plate having an opening 14 adapted to register with the outer end of the passage 65 of the duct 64 when the valve is rocked in one extreme direction to open position, while, when the valve is rocked in the other extreme direction to closed position, the valve plate will cover the outer end of said passage. Formed on the valve plate are lateral flanges 15 adapted to engage the duct 64 for limiting the valve in its rocking movement in opposite directions, and connected to the lower end of -the valve :plate isa hand rod -'I6 for adjusting said valve.

The engine carburetor and associated parts may now be considered, and in this connection reference isma-de to Figures 6, '1, 10, 11, and l2 of the drawings.

VA :more kor less oblong float Vchamber 11 is provided, which chamber is closed by a removable cover plate 18 and is -detachably secured against the base ange of the -crank case head 63. This chamber is provided at its lower side, in the reduced box-like rear end of said chamber, with a removable valve seat nipple 19, and, more or less centrally of the chamber, with an outlet stub tube 80., while in 4one side wall of the chamber is provided an air-vent stub tube 8I. A removable pin 82 extends transversely between the side walls of the chamber, and journaled thereon is a sleeve B3 'which carries a Vfloat rod 84 provided at one end with a suitable float 85 and adapted to engage at .its opposite end with an inlet valve 86 received in the upper end-of the nipple 19. Thus, t-he float 4may regulate the flow of liquid fuel through the Vfloat chamber.

Referring `back now to the duct 64 of the crank case head 63, I provide, as shown in Figure 1, a removable transversefuel tube 81, shown in detail in Figure 23 of the drawings. This tube is provided kat one end with an externally threaded head 88 screwed into one side wall of the duct 64 'so that the smooth portion ofthe tube projects through the other side wall of said duct, and formed in said tube at its upper side is an orifce 89.

Now to connect up the float chamber 11 with the fuel tube 81: A flexible tube 98, as of rubber, is connected at one end to the tank I2, as shown in Figure 1, thence extends inside the handle I9 to remerge near the lower end thereof, and, at its lower end, is connected to the nipple 19 of the float chamber 11. Another like tube 9 I, as of rubber, is connected at one end to the outlet stub tube 88 of the float chamber and, at its opposite end, is connected, as shown in Figure '1, tothe free end of the fuel tube 81. Thus. liquid fuel Will be supplied from the tank I2 to the fuel tube 81. However, I provide a manually operated pinching device for shutting off the now through both of the flexible tubes 90 and 9|, as will now be described.

Fixed to one end of the float chamber 11, as seen in detail in Figure 24 of the drawings, are studs 92 which carry a head plate 93, and screwed through said head plate is a hand-adjustable jack screw 94 operable against a cross-head 95 slidable upon said studs and behind which the flexible rubber tubes 98 and 9| are arranged to extend. Thus, by turning the screw 94, the tubes 99 and 9I may be pinched between the cross-head and the adjacent end wall of the oat chamber 11 for choking off the flow of liquid fuel through said tubes.

Referring now particularly to Figure '1 of the drawings, it has been seen that liquid fuel is supplied to the fuel tube 81. Removably disposed in the passage 65 of the duct 64 of the crank case head 63 is a Venturi sleeve 96 transversely through which the fuel tube extends and holds the sleeve in position, the orifice 89 being disposed uppermost medially of said sleeve. Formed in the lower side of the head 98 of the tube 61 is a longitudinal key slot 91, and slidable over said (head is a key 98 against which abuts a jam nut 99 locking the fuel tube in position. Detachably V4cylinder 4l' from the lower side thereof.

mounted upon said head is a needle valve assembly, now to be described.

As shown in detail in Figure 25 of the drawings, the needle valve assembly mentioned includes a tubular head IBG provided at Vits outer end with a nipple I I, and which is screwed .at its inner end over the head 88 of the fuel tube 8'5. Received through the head ISG to extend into the fuel tube is a needle valve IGZ having a head I 83 screwed into the outer end portion of the bore of the head IGS', and locking the needle valve in adjusted position on the head Ill is a jam nut IM. Thus, the needle valve H32 may be adjusted longitudinally of the head Il, while the head |00 may be rotatably adjusted longitudinally of the head 88 of the fuel tube 8l for positioning the inner end of the needle valve relative to the orifice 89.

Fitting the nipple I BI of the head HGB is a tubular handle IE detachably fixed to said nipple and providing, in effect, an axial extension of said head, and interposed between the inner end of said head and the duct llis a spring It@ adapted to frictionally hold said head in adjusted position on the head 8B of the fuel tube 8l. Thus the now of liquid fuel aspirated by the engine piston through the orifice 89 of the fuel tube 8l, as will be well understood, may be manually regulated to provide, when mixed with air drawn through the passage 65 of the duct dil, a combustible fuel mixture, and as the valve 65 is revolved, said mixture Will be admitted through the port 'I2 of the valve and passage 1I to the crank case d6, to thence flow through the ducts 5I to the engine cylinder.

The remaining parts of the cutting head ll may now be considered.

Removably secured about the upper end of the engine above the cover plate 32 of the fan housing 27 and forwardly lof the exhaust manifold 51 is a jacket lill', and, as seen in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the parts 15, 8l, 9d, and |35 project freely through said jacket. This jacket is provided at its forward side with a screened window H18 through which air may be admitted to the duct 64, and closing said jacket at its upper end is a removable cap plate |09. As best seen in Figures 4, 7, 8 and 14 of the drawings, this cap plate is provided at its rear side with a flat depending baifle-flange IIB which extends downwardly in front of the manifold 5l to straddle the inner end portion of the engine cylinder lll, and fixed to the cover plate 32, as perhaps best seen in Figure 8, is a stop plate I I I against which the flange IIB abuts, the stop plate extending upwardly to straddle the inner end portion of the Thus, excessive heating, by the outer end of the engine cylinder, of the parts enclosed by the jacket Il will be prevented.

Removably keyed to the tail stem il of the crank shaft 40, as seen in Figure 5, is a head I i2, and positioned medially against the lower end of the head is a cutting blade I I3 detachably secured in place by an elongated cap nut IIll which extends axially of the head and is screwed onto the lower end of the tail stem. Thus, the blade H3 will turn with the crank shaft 4G and may be removed for sharpening or substitution when so desired.

The cutting blade IIS is shown in detail in Figures 18 and 19 of the drawings. As will be observed, said blade is provided at longitudinally opposite edge extremities thereof with cutting edgesv I I5, and at correspondingly opposite edge extremities with upturned fan wings IIE slanted laterally in opposing directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade. As will now be described, the edges I l5 do the cutting work of grass, while the wings I I 6 serve as fan blades.

Looking now at Figures 4, 5, and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that, as the blade H3 is rotated the wings H4 will develop an up-draft of air about the shoe I5. Thus, the blades `of grass will be pulled upwardly to be encountered by the cutting edges I I5 of the blade to be severed thereby. The updraft of air mentioned will, as will be seen, be discharged upwardly against the air dish I to emerge through the openings of the cover plate I'I between the inner ring 24 of said plate and the outer guard ring 25 thereof about the fan housing 27. Further, it is to be noted that since the guard ring 25 is of greater diameter than the length of the cutting blade IIS, said ring will, as suggested in Figure 3, prevent the tips of the blade, in the use of the device, from striking an object when cutting close thereto.

It may now be noted that all of the parts of the whole device, with the exception of some of the elements of the magneto 33, the engine crank shaft 46, the bearings 3l and 39 for said shaft, and some small minor items of structural detail, are all preferably formed of suitable aluminum alloy, as in the embodiment of the invention shown. The blade I I3 is of course, of steel. However as will be perceived, the cutting head II is, as a whole, light in weight and may be easily carried by the handle I and conveniently manipulated for cutting grass.

The provisions made for cooling of the engine and other parts remain to be further described,

and in this connection reference may be made t0 Figure 8 of the drawings.

As has been seen, rotation of the fan 28 by the crank shaft Ll@ will serve to draw through the duct Id of the handle Il! a stream of air into the air dish i5. Accordingly, it is now to be noted that the air dish is located immediately above the cutting blade H3 and close to the ground. Therefore, the air dish will be directly subjected to the cooling influences of the up-draft of cooler ground-surface air impelled thereagainst by the cutting blade, as well as any grass-moisture driven against the air dish. Thus, as will be seen, the air dish i6 will `be cooled for, in turn, cooling the air stream flowing through the dish into the fan housing 2l'. From the fan housing, the cooling air stream in said housing is impelled upwardly and out through the outlet 54 of said housing, and thence through the air flue 55 about the outer end portion of the engine cylinder lll to issue partly through the exit 56 yof said flue and partly against the inclined baille wall 59 of the exhaust manifold 57. Accordingly, as will be appreciated, excess heat at the outer end portion of the engine cylinder will be carried olf to afford eilicient functioning of the engine while, also, the portion of the exhaust manifold immediately above the outer end of said cylinder will .be somewhat cooled so that the proximity of the parts may hot tend toward over-heating of the cylinder.

Finally, another feature to .be noted is that moisture from the grass being cut may not nd entrance into the air dish IS, the fan housing 2l, and fan casing 29 to affect the magneto 33, or other vital parts of the cutting head I2. The device may thus be used in the early morning when dew is on the grass, or after a rain, with entire efficiency.

azionari@- 9V Having thus' described my invention, I'clai'm.: l.` In a grass trimmer,` a cutting-headiincluding a horizontal air dish disposed closeto the groundy when the headV is in usea`fan housing,A upstanding from said dish and mounted' thereon an en.- gine mounted on top of said housingandlincluding a cylinder and crank shafttlie latter voffwhich extends through therhousingl and dish..` a.` cutting: blade operatively connected with thev lower end of Said shaft and operable by thel shaft, in az'onev` close below said dish, the dish and' housing. providing an air passage therethrough closed' with respect to the zone of operation of said blade and having an outlet disposedto discharge air from said housing about the cylinder for cooling. the same, means carried by the shaftl within said housing and operable by the shaftto` inducea' current of.. air through said?. passage, said dish having a bottom wall, anda, bearing mounted upon said wall and journaling theshaftmean its.

lower end. 1 l

2. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including a horizontal air dish disposed close to the ground when the head is in` use,` a fan. housing upstanding from said dish and mounted. thereon, an engine mounted on top of said housing: and including a cylinder and crank shaft thelatter of which extends through said housing anddish., a cutting blade operatively connected with the lower end of said shaft and operable -by the shaft in a zone close below said dish, said dish and housing providing an air passage therethrough closed with respect to the zone of operation of said `blade and having an outlet disposed to discharge air from said housing about the engine cylinder for cooling the same, a casing fixed to the crank shaft to turn therewith within said housing, a head plate closing said casing and iixcd to said housing stationary with respect to said casing, a magneto mounted within said casing and operatively connected with the engine cylinder, a spring surrounding the shaft within the casing and acting on the casing to prevent grinding of the casing against said head plate when the casing is turned, and means carried bysaid casing and rotatable thereby for inducing a current of air through said passage.

3. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including a horizontal air dish disposed close to the ground when the head is in use, a fan housing upstanding from said dish and mounted thereon, an engine mounted on top of said housing and including a cylinder and crank shaft the latter of which extends through said housing and dish, a cutting blade operatively connected with the lower end of said shaft and operable by the shaft in a zone close below said dish, the dish and housing providing an air passage therethrough closed with respect to the zone of operation of said blade and having an outlet disposed to discharge air from said housing about the engine cylinder for cooling the same, means carried by the shaft within said housing and operable by the shaft to induce a current of air through said passage, and means carried by the blade and operable thereby for blowing a current of air upwardly about said dish for cooling the dish and the current of air flowing therethrough.

4. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including an internal combustion engine having a crank shaft, a cutting blade operably connected with said shaft for rotation thereby in a cutting zone, means of hollow construction mounting said engine and providing a passage having an intake for a current of air flowing through the passage shaft, .a cutting blade operably connected withA said shaft for rotation thereby in a cutting zone, means. mountingsaid engine and of hollow construction providing `a passage having an intake for, a.'Y current. of air flowing through the passage for cooling the, engine,y said passage being closed with; respect to. saidcutting zone, and an elongated staff providing a, handle fixed at one endA in, said; intake and formed at its opposite end.

withganair. inlet disposed at a point remote from said cutting zone, said handle being tubular and.

providingan passage therethrough connecting saidinletwith said intake.

d4 In aLgrassitrimmer, a cutting head includingari internal'Y combustion engine having a crank shaft; a, cutting blade operably connected with said shaft for rotation thereby in a cutting zone, means mounting the. engine and disposed immediately above said blade, said means being. of hollow Vconstruction providing a passage having an intake fora current of air flowing through the passage for cooling the engine, the passage being closed with respect to said cutting zone and a wall of said passage forming the upper limit of said zone, and an elongated staff providing a handle xed at one end in said intake andy formed at its opposite end with an air inlet disposed at a point remote from said cutting zone, said handle being tubular and providing an air passage therethrough connecting said inlet with said intake.

'7. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including a flat hollow air dish disposed with its lower side close to the ground when the head is in use and provided with an air intake, an engine having a crank shaft extending into said dish, a cutting blade operably connected with said shaft and operable by the shaft in a zone close below said dish, and a fan housing disposed between said engine and dish connecting the engine and dish with each other and receiving said shaft therethrough, said housing being provided with an outlet disposed to discharge air about the engine for cooling the same and said dish and housing providing an air passage therethrough closed with respect to the zone of operation of said blade and connecting said intake with said outlet.

8. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including a hat hollow air dish disposed with its lower side close to the ground when the head is in use, a cover` plate fixed to the dish at its upper side and provided with a guard ring as well as with an air intake, an engine having a crank shaft extending into said dish, a cutting blade operably connected with said shaft and operable by the shaft in a zone close below said ring, the blade being shorter than the diameter of the ring, and a fan housing disposed between said engine and dish connecting the engine and dish with each other and receiving said shaft therethrough, said housing being provided with an outlet disposed to discharge air about the engine for cooling the same and said dish and housing providing an air passage therethrough closed with respect to the zone of operation of said blade and connecting said intake with said outlet.

9. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including a hollow air dish provided with an air intake, an engine having a crank shaft extending into said dish, a cutting blade operably connected with said shaft and operable by the shaft in a zone close below said dish, a fan housing disposed between said engine and dish connecting the engine and dish with each other and receiving said shaft therethrough, said housing being provided with and outlet disposed to discharge air about the engine for cooling the same and said dish and housing providing an air passage therethrough closed with respect to the zone of operation of said blade and connecting said intake with said outlet, and an elongated staff providing a handle xed at its inner end in said intake and formed at its outer end with an air inlet, said handle being of tubular construction and providing lan air passage therethrough connecting the inlet of the handle with said intake.

10. In a grass trimmer, a cutting head including a hollow air dish provided with an air intake, an engine having a crank shaft extending into said dish, a cutting blade operably connected with said shaft and operable by the shaft in a zone close below said dish, a fan housing disposed between saidpengine and dish connecting the engine and dish with each other and receiving said shaft therethrough, said housing being provided with l2 an outlet disposed to discharge air about the engine for cooling the same and said dish and housing providing an air passage therethrough closed with respect to the zone of operation of said blade and connecting said intake with said outlet, means carried by the crank shaft within said housing and operable by the shaft to induce a current of air through said passage, and means on said blade and operable thereby for blowing a current of air upwardly about said dish for cooling the dish and the current of air flowing therethrough.

EDWIN F. BRITTEN, III.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.21,289 Orr Dec. 5, 1939 Re. 23,146 Packwood Sept. 13, 1949 (Original No. 2,445,965) 1,751,739 Jacobsen Mar. 25, 1980 2,172,992 Stegeman Sept. 12, 1939 2,208,972 Goodall July 23, 1940 2,259,676 Winchell Oct. 2l, 1941 2,397,457 Krenzke Mar, 26, 1946 2,427,265 Dreischerf Sept. 9, 1947 2,519,779 Moon Aug. 22, 1950 

